The Cowboy receiver sprinted down the sideline, eluding one defender. Then two. Then three. Then four. They dove and lunged, but not a one of them kept Wallace from the end zone.

On a night the outcome was never in doubt — OSU throttled overmatched and outmanned McNeese State, 56-14 — Wallace was worth the price of admission. He was a year ago when he was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, and if it’s possible, he looks even better this season.

I know Oregon State and McNeese State do not a rough start to the season make, but Wallace is nevertheless wowing us.

That’s 36 yards a catch, the kind of average that’s difficult to achieve against any opponent. But even more impressive is a guy scoring three touchdowns on only five catches. That's the kind of thing you don’t see every day.

It brought to mind a couple other performances in Cowboy history.

Back in 2002, Rashaun Woods had seven touchdown catches at SMU. It seemed like everything thrown his way went for a score. That wasn’t quite the case, but the Cowboy legend only needed 13 catches to score seven touchdowns.

Then in 2012, Isaiah Anderson had a three-touchdown game against Texas Tech. He did it on only four catches. The Red Raiders opted to cover him one-on-one, and with Anderson’s sprinter speed, all he had to do was make his man miss.

Two of his touchdowns were at least 60 yards.

So it was for Wallace on Saturday.

That first one went for 69 yards, and his third one, which came on the first play of the second half, went for 75 yards.

A 4-yard touchdown was sandwiched in between.

Through two games this season, Wallace has five touchdowns on 10 catches. Every other catch, a touchdown.

That’s not normal, folks.

Neither is Wallace.

He can turn simple plays into highlight catches. Take one of his non-touchdown catches Saturday. Late in the second quarter, McNeese State was drawn offsides and OSU had a free play. Cowboy quarterback Spencer Sanders knew exactly where to go with the ball; he lofted a jump-ball sort of pass toward Wallace.

The cornerback covering Wallace had good inside position. Looked like the defender would be able to bat the ball away and might even be able to snag it as it floated in.

Instead, Wallace went up, became something of a defender and disrupted the cornerback. The ball was batted around a bit, but Wallace came down with it.

What's more, even though the play happened right along the sideline, Wallace managed to avoid stepping out of bounds. Maybe it was luck — an official review showed Wallace was within a heel down of being out — but the more he does what seems impossible, the less it seems like luck.

And these days, Tylan Wallace is making the impossible routine.

Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at 405-475-4125 or jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK or follow her at twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok.

Oklahoma State's Jordan McCray (12) celebrates with Tylan Wallace (2) after a Wallace touchdown in the second quarter Saturday. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman] Fans greet players for the the Walk before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks into the stadium during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks into the stadium during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) takes a picture with fans before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Pistol Pete entertains the crowd during the Walk before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Pistol Pete entertains the crowd during the Walk before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) walks into the stadium before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
The OSU band plays during the Walk before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]The OSU band plays during the Walk before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walk in the stadium before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]An Oklahoma State marching band member plays before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]An Oklahoma State marching band member plays before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]An Oklahoma State marching band member plays before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard (30) scores a touchdown in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) looks to throw a touchdown pass to Tylan Wallace (2) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) throws a touchdown pass to Tylan Wallace (2) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) and Jordan McCray (12) celebrate a Wallace touchdown next to McNeese State's Darion Dunn (1) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Malcolm Rodriguez (20) celebrates a play in the first quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) gets by McNeese State's Jovon Burriss (5) as he runs in for a touchdown in the first quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) scores a touchdown in the first quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy watches a play during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) scrambles in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) gets by McNeese State's Jovon Burriss (5) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) gets a reception over McNeese State's Calum Foster (6) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) gets a reception over McNeese State's Calum Foster (6) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) gets a reception over McNeese State's Calum Foster (6) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State's Dru Brown (6) hans the ball off to Micah Cooper (26) for a touchdown in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Braydon Johnson (8) and Tyrell Alexander (10) celebrate a Johnson touchdown in front of McNeese State's Jovon Burriss (5) in the third quarter and during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Dru Brown (6) throws a pass in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Micah Cooper (26) scores a touchdown in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's C.J. Moore (35) stiff arms McNeese State's Colby Richardson (16) as he runs in for a touchdown in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Dru Brown (6) rushes as McNeese State's Andre Sam (21) chases him in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Braydon Johnson (8) gets by McNeese State's Andre Sam (21) as he runs in for a touchdown during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's C.J. Moore (35) runs in for a touchdown as McNeese State's Colby Richardson (16) chases him during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Braydon Johnson (8) scores a touchdown in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks off the field following the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Dru Brown (6) throws a pass in the fourth quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Dru Brown (6) looks to throw a pass in the fourth quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Tyler Lacy (89) and Tyrell Alexander (10) greets fans following the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Jacob Morris (38) is tackled by McNeese State's Justin Jackson (24) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) runs a play at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) gets a reception over McNeese State's Calum Foster (6) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) gets a reception over McNeese State's Calum Foster (6) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) gets a reception over McNeese State's Calum Foster (6) during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) looks to throw a touchdown pass in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (2) runs onto the field before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Malcolm Rodriguez (20) and Marcus Keyes (75) walk to the bench after the coin toss during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy runs onto the field before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Braydon Johnson (8) scores a touchdown in front of McNeese State's Colby Richardson (16) in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Malcolm Rodriguez (20) waits for a play during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Micah Cooper (26) scores a touchdown in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Bryce Bray (78) blocks McNeese State's Jovon Burriss (5) as Spencer Sanders (3) rushes during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Jordan McCray (12) makes a catch as McNeese State's Calum Foster (6) defends in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Samuela Tuihalamaka (35) pressures Cody Orgeron (8) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Philip Redwine-Bryant (38) and Kevin Henry (33) celebrate a play in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Micah Cooper (26) celebrates a touchdown in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State head coach watches a replay during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Sione Asi (99) and Trace Ford (94) tackle McNeese State's Elijah Mack (4) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Malcolm Rodriguez (20) and Trace Ford (94) tackle McNeese State's J'Cobi Skinner (34) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) gets by McNeese State's Justin Jackson (24) and Andre Sam (21) as he rushes in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Braydon Johnson (8) rushes for a touchdown as he is chased by Andre Sam (21) in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Teven Jenkins (73) and Bryce Bray (78) protect Spencer Sanders (3) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Brock Martin (40) joins a huddle during a time out during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]Oklahoma State's Braydon Johnson (8) gets by Andre Sam (21) as he runs in for a touchdown in the third quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the McNeese State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]

Jenni Carlson

Jenni Carlson, a sports columnist at The Oklahoman since 1999, came by her love of sports honestly. She grew up in a sports-loving family in Kansas. Her dad coached baseball and did color commentary on the radio for the high school football...
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